Raymond Morrow Hunter
Raymond Morrow Hunter, 67, a native of Arizona and an accomplished Phoenix attorney specializing in commercial and business law for more than 40 years, died Dec. 2, 2011, at his home in Phoenix after a long, intense battle with cancer.
Born in Phoenix in 1944 to parents Franklin and Lois Hunter, he was student body president at Central High School, beginning a lifelong pattern of becoming president of every organization or cause that he embraced. He attended Stanford University, where he was president of Delta Upsilon fraternity, played on the collegiate basketball team and graduated in 1966 with a Bachelor of Arts. He then attended George Washington University, where he earned a law degree.
His first professional assignment was as a staff assistant in Washington, D.C., to then U.S. Sen. Paul J. Fannin of Arizona, and he later clerked for Justice Jack D. H. Hayes of the Arizona Supreme Court. In years to follow, he became a partner with the Phoenix law firm Ryley, Carlock & Applewhite and was also general counsel and senior vice president of MeraBank. In 2008, he established the sole proprietorship of Raymond M. Hunter, P.C.
Ray contributed generously to professional organizations and community groups, among them, The Wellness Community-Arizona that last spring launched the Hunter Hope Fund to honor Ray's contributions during his two-year tenure as the organization's board chairman. In addition, he was board chairman of Audubon Arizona, past chairman of the Phoenix Open PGA golf tournament, past Big Chief of The Thunderbirds and a life member, past chairman of the Valley Field Riding & Polo Club, past chairman of the City of Phoenix Commissions on Housing and Human Relations, past vice chairman of the Central Phoenix Commission for Development of City of Phoenix Downtown Specific Plan, past president of the Orpheum Theatre Foundation, past president of Luke's Men, and past president of the visiting Nurse Service.
